Paper-feeding machine



' Aug- 19', 1930. H. HALLsTREAM 1,773,266'v PAPER FEEDIVNG MACHINE Filed Sept. 3. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m QH km Aug. 19, 1930. H. HALLSTREAM 1,773,266

PAPER FEEDING' MACHINE v Filed sept. s. 1925 :s sheets-sheet 2 www All@ 19, 1930- H. HALLSTREAM A 1,773,266

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 3, `1925 3'Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 19, 1930 UNITED STATE-s oFfFmEgp IIENNING HAIJLSTREAM, OF BRAINTREE,' MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORrTO CROSS PAPER FEEDER COMPANY, OF. ..B(V)S'1|O1\T,` MASSAGI-IUSEILTS,y A1COBJ?OR-ATIION'0Fv MASSACHU- SETTS Appnctionfileaseptember The'present invention relates to ypaper feeding machines, and morevparticularlyf to machines which separate individual sheetsfrom a continuous bank and fforward them in successiongto a: printing press, folder or othervma.- chine'lfor "operating thereon.

. The obj ect iLof the invention isto reorganize and 'improve ip'aper feeding machines,- with a particular View to providing :efficient devices for detecting and 'preventing' an attempted simultaneous -or 4overlapping feed of two xlor more sheets bythedelivery means; Lith this and other obj ectsin `view7 -as will 'hereinafter appear, the vpresent invention consistsinthe F paper feedingxmachine hereinafter described and :particularlyedeined in the claims.'

Inf=the accompanyi-ngfdrawings, Fi'g.Y lfis a side elevationzshowingfso inuclro'flfacontiniuous -paper-.feeding machineasis necessary towillustrate--the"application of the 'present invention thereto; Fig.' 2-is a front-'elevation of the 'machine fshown :in Fig. i1;f-Fig.;3 isa detail sectional". View showing the arrange'- ment of the' air blast nozzlesgF-ig. lis awdetail view showing the-operation of the caliper mechanism .and the V"bank feeding means; Fig. `5`is a detail view on line 15--5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 iis a-detailv vievs7 ofthe vbank feedingmeans Fig. 7 isafront v'iew\of a part ofthe mechanism show-n vin-Fig. 6;a1nd Fig. Sxis a detail ofthe guide lingers. f The illustrated .embodiment ofthe inventionscomprises a continuous feederwhich a bankr of feathered or-fanned out sheets is r fed from an upper supply tabletlirougha reversing throat andA ontoY alowver lfeed table7 the forward end .of which is indicated at 1Q. The individual sheets are separatedfrom the frontendofthe bank and'presented'to a continuously acting delivery mechanism, which comprises a series of tapes 12 passing'over'a continuously rotatedfrear pulley lllya'n'lad justable'front roll .16a-nd intermediate ad-y Justable-'take-up rolls 18 yand-20. This'deliw ery 'meeha-ni'smserves topresent the individe ual sheets-successively to a folderr or lother machine for operatingthereon. Y

vThe means kfor separating the; individu-al sheets fnom .the bank comprisestaI perforated 0 continuously Araming? 'Suctionfrwheel .21g

PArERLFEEmNe MACHINE against fthe inner rimof .whichA 'presses a suction'box, 22conn'ected bjyapipe23 to asuction controlling fvalve in; the v'valve casing2l,y which in turn communicates with any suitable eX- h'austing means whereby" a: suction maybe applied to the topsheet of the-bank. through the rim ofthe -wheel. -Efectiveseparation of the sheets 'is assistedfby al 'plurality-of guide iingers25 which'are arrangedI atlintervals'across the machine ion i afixed tnansverse v:shaft `2,6, and which have inclinedreansurfaces 27 fto present the'sheets to thexaction of an'air-'blast directedupwardlygfrom a pluralityjof Anozzles 28; shownin Eig. 3,=`each nozzle yis formed ona short `sleeve {29 received on a central tube SO-.eXtending across the-machine,"the tube having l spaced D openings 32v communicating with the nozzles. The nozzles are sepa-rated by?v spaceri bush-ings 34 s which arefm'ainta-ined with thenozzles in Yproper' position on thetube byfa:v spring 35 taking aga-inst af collar-36' at on'e end ofthe tube. Itwill jbe seen-thatfany of the nozzles ma beturned yfrom normal operating position into thedotted line. position of 6@ to cut off tcommunieation1 thereof with the interior.: ofl theftube, the spring 35 acti-nggtofretain the nozzlesin any. position to which they maybe moved Without preventing convenient manual movement thereof whenever necessary. :Thisfprovision forrendering one or V`more of 'thelnozzles ineffectiveisdesirable inzopierating on narrow'sheets ofpaper7 not fon-lybecause itfsavesxpowerbut also because ofthe lfact that-while the suction separatingmeans-may tend to piek up more than one' sheetl of paperf the increased blast from the-smaller-number ofblowersfwill efectually -preventfsuchaetioI-i. 4

TheetubeS/O conneotsfbya-n elbow 38 with ia iexible hose 40; leading through the valve 24 to, a suitable blower- The tube 3,0 is supported atone endbyfthe `co"llar" 6and at the othe-rby asimilairlcollar 44; both ofwheh are secured fto -rods i6fadjustablyfreceived in co1- lars 48which are rotatively'adjustableone fixed transverseshaft 50. f n

'lh'e` means 1 for .y driving- Uthe parts Vabove deseribedcomprise a stud 60 jou-rnaledvin a bracket 61 and connected by I a yuniversal jpnt 621 crtica shatfefvpleted from the tomdisconnect the lfeeder from the source of power. The disk 76 is mounted on a stud 78 which is connected by gears 80 and 82 with the shaft 84 onfwhirhithedelivery roll 14 is mounted, the latter shaft being connecte'dat the other `side 'of the machine throgli" gears 85 and 86 with ythe shaft 88 onwhichthe suction wheel 21 is mounted. In order to provide 'for a movement of the disltipl-ifradiallyof the'dsk4 76, the shaft 72 'has as' line 89, and the disk 74 is mounted onfahu 90 whichis embraced by a yoke 92 adapted to be moved by a screw 94 which is journaled' in suitable bearingsin the machine androtatable by a hand lever 96 on the side of theimachine throu h fbevel `gears 98. The shaft f 72 is journale at opposite ends in bearinflOO and 162, the former being arran i adjacent to the gear and the latter r g formed irran 'arm104 which is pivtnthe frame at 106 and which is urged byfa spring 108 to hold the disks in frictional `sion is made for opening the clutch by eeparation ofthe clutch members upon failtiren of the suction wheel to separate the aheetsisothat two or more sheets are fed sirnnitaneously or in overla ping relation by the delivery means. To t is end a caliper mechanism 'is associated with the delivery mechanism and comprises la bottom idler roll 110, acoo erating upper idler roll 112 and a caliper-rol 114, which latter is adapted to rotate only when two or more sheets overlap-'inpassing over the delivery tapes. As Fig:k 2, the 'rolls 112 and 114 are mounted on t e shaft 116, the former being loosely received on the shaft as indicated in Fig. 2 and the latter being secured thereto. Thcushat 'is received in a pivoted arm 118 may be "adjusted for different 'thicknjof `paper*against thetension vof a spr'A i 4means of a milled thumbscrewY 122,*` end of which bears against la fixed bracket 124. A lug 126 on the ,caliper roll 114 V'strikes a normally Vstationary arm 128 wlielitlje 'rollf114is caused to rotate by the ofgan additions` thicknessfof paper. The'arml128is to a rock'shaft 130 ioiirnaledfiiiaibraoket of the machine, and

, the rock shaft has secured to it a linkl 1132 @amnesty sdraiata rack rever 136. 'rlsgeei leze; 113e lsgnadfon @rock shaft whichMl ,A asses au fu per" portion 140 as* shown in Ingal 24M ap* Associated wini the rock shaft 138 is a latch, indicated generally at 142, which is adapted to be retained in the position shown in Fig. 5 during normal operation of the machine and to be moved across the slabbed surface 140 of the shaft when the caliper roll is operated upon overlapping feed of two or more sheets. This latch comprises a spring pressed plunger 144 received within a sleeve 146 which is formed with an integral collar 148 secured to a rock shaft 150 extending across the machine and journalcd in a sleeve 152. Securedl to the opposite end of the rock shaft 150 are two rock levers 154 and-156, the former of which connects with the friction clutch and the latter with the valve 24. A heavy spring 158 yis connected between the lever 156 and the frameof the machine and urges the latch 142 against the shaft 140. The rock lever 154 connects by a link 160 with a toggle joint comprising a 1ever'162 pivoted at 164 on the machine frame and connected by a link 166 with the arm 104, the link 166 being pivot-ed at 168 on the arm 162 and pivoted on a stud 17() secured to the arm 104. As shown in Fig. 2, a slight amount of lost motion is provided between the link 166 and the stud 17 O to allow for wear on the friction disk 74 in Vorder that the latter may always be firmly pressed by the spring 108 against the disk 76. The/rock lever 156 is connected by a rod 157 with suitable means for operating the valve 24 to open both the air blast and the suction means to the atmosphere through vents 172 and 174. It will be seen that upon operation of the caliper roll theV rock shaft 140 will'be turned in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, and under the tension of the spring 158 the latch will swing over the upper end of thev slabbed portion of the shaft,thus permitting a counterclock- Wise rotation of the rock shaft 150. This movement of the shaft 150 lifts upon the link V160 to open the toggle, thus swinging the bracket 104 on its pivot 106 and moving the friction disk 74 away from the disk 76, the slight movement necessary for this separation of the clutch members being permitted by a loose fit of the shaft 72 within the bearing 100. It will be seen that upon operation of the caliper lrolls to detect an overlapping feed the entire machine is stopped. Thel friction clutch controlling the operation of the delivery tapes and the suction wheel stops operation of both, while the valve is opened to prevent lifting of the top sheet by the suction or lforcing of theV air blast against the front end of the bank. The operation of the machine may then be resumed by resetting of the parts, which may be manually effected by moving the latch 142 to its original position, thus breaking the-toggle and permitting the spring 108 to move the friction disks into engagement, at the same time opening los lio

the valve 24 to operate the suction means and the air blast.

Provision is made for manually stopping the machine through operation of the latch 142. To this end there is provided a lever 180 adapted for longitudinal movement and having a cam surface 182 cooperating With a pin 184 on thel plunger 144. The lever 180 has provision for a limited longitudinal movement by being mounted on a bracket 186 through a pin and slot connection 188, so that upon movement of the lever to the right, as vieWedinFig. 5,the plunger 144 will be raised and the latch permit-ted to swing into a posi` tion to stop the machine, as described above.

The bank of feathered or fanned out sheets is fed over the feed table by feed tapes 190 Which are actuated by feed mechanism controlled by the thickness of the bank to maintain a suitable number of sheets in proper position With relation to the suction Wheel. The feed mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel 194 secured to the shaft 196 Which carries the pulleys 198 for the front end of the feed tapes and the feed paWl V200 which is given a feeding stroke only when the front end of the bank beneath the suction Wheel has decreasedbelow a predetermined thickness. The feed pavvl is carried on one arm of a lever 202 which is acted upon by a spring 204 to retract the pawl When permitted to do so. Whenever the pavvl is retracted it is then advanced to feed forward the bank'by a cam 206 secured to the shaft 88 and arranged to act on a roll 208 on the lever 202. The retracting movement of the paWl is normally prevented by a pivoted pa-Wl 210 Which is arranged to engage a stop shoulder 212 on the lever 202 When the cam roll 208 rides olf the high part of the cam and registers with the low part. The action of the stop pawl 210 is controlled by a measuring Wheel or detector Wheel 214 arranged to rest upon the top of the bank directly above a detector plate 216, Which is mounted in a bracket 218 on the machine frame. A spring plate 219 having a slot 220 through Which the Wheel 214 passes, serves to press lightly against the top sheet of the bank and hold the sheets in proper position to be measured by the detector Wheel 214. The Wheel 214 is l mounted for free rotation on the end of a lever 222 which is mounted on a shaft 224 journaled in the frame and which has secured to its end a controlling arm 226. This controlling arm, While the bank isI of sufficient l thickness, lies in the rear of a flattened unl Each time the cam roll 208 passes on to theV high part ofthe,cam'206,wtherpawl V210 is vraised out ofthe notch ,212 virtue offthe cam' surface 238 formed in back `ofthe shoulder 212 on' the pawl carryingarm 202. At

this tim'e,`the controlling arm 2,26 is free to l.

pass under thesurface l228 :unless vprevented by I'the engagement of the detector Wheel 214 With a suflicient thickness ofpaper. Sovlong as t-he bank'presents a'suicient number of .sheets-.tothe separating devices, the'pavvl 210 -Will1fbe freeto "engagethe notch 212 during each? cycle of the machine and no feed ofthe bankwi'llftake place, the slight movement which is imparted to the pawl carrying .arm 202 :being insufficient tozretractthe feed pawl Vover one notch of'the ratchet Wheel.y Asthe front end of the'bank becomes depleted, the

-a'-r`m:226f will `svvi'n-g :to the right until finalthe part 5228 of the stop pawl lifting member.

The lnumber `of' sheets `for Which affeeding action 'off the bank may' be lcaused yto atake placeA 'may bey ,adj usted by varying the yposition of themeinber 230 in the block 234.

is claimed is: f

1..,A paper Vfeeding machine: having,rin combination, suction sheets separating f devices,-'means'for advancing a continuous-bank ofwfanned outsheetsf'to the separating devices, sheet delivery means`, d1'iving'means for *thei separating'lidevices wand =thef delivery means `includifngfa clutclf, means f for applying a .suctionfeto "theseparatingdevices, va valve for controlling the fsuction, afcaliper mechanism: associated -Withf1-` the delivery meansrfor detecting overlapping feed of more than oney sheet`,iand connections roperating upon actuationofthe caliper mechanism`n to open the-.clutch fand, actuate the valve to .cut offfthefsuction. I

2.1A paper :feeding machine having, in combination, sheet separating devices, bank feeding "Imeans, delivery` means, vcaliper mechanism, drivingI means f including Y Atwo friction disks;` one of whi'ch''is. mounted for movement radially and axially of the other, manual means for effecting radial movement of said disk to vary the speed, and connec- .fHaving thus described the linvention, what tions between said disk and the caliper l mechanism for effecting axial movement of the disk to stop the machine upon actuation of the caliper mechanism to detect simultaneous feed of more than one sheet by the delivery means.

*A paper feeding machine having, in combination, sheet separatin devices, means foreedin'ga ,continuous ban of fanned out sheets to the separating devices, delivery 5 means, driving mechanism including a clutch having two members, `means tending normally to hold the members of the clutch in engagement, a toggle mechanism adapted to Adisengage the clutch -members,` a caliper mechanism, and. connections between the caliperlmechanism and the toggle for oper- Y ating the latterv upon. detection of simultaneouspfeed'of more than one sheet by the delivery means. A' v a n, iA., Av paper .feeding machine having, in

combination, sheetseparating devices, con- *tiuous bank feeding means, delivery means, -a caliper mechanism associated with the de- =Iivery means for detecting simultaneous feed of? more than one sheet, driving means for thema/chine including a clutch having friction-disks, a'l spring normally holding the vin engagement,a toggle adapted to act against the spring to disengage the clutch members, and connections between the toggle and the caliper mechanism.

5.' Awpaper eeding machine having, in combination, sheets separating devices, continuous bank feeding means, delivery means, :zo as e'ai r `mechanism associated with the delivery means for detecting simultaneous feed 01 more than onesheet, driving means for the machine including `a clutch having friction disks,.a spring normily holding the disks in "'cnggement, la toggle adapted to act against the spring to disengage the clutch members, and connections between the toggle caliper mechanism including a toggle perating leve:` and `alatch mechanism nor- 40 mally holding the toggle operating lever in yinoperative position.

W6, N1 peper eedingmachine having, in combination, air blast' devices including a eleefvehaving'rplurality of openings, a plu- A ralityof nozzles mounted on the sleeve and having' openings communicating with the openings of the sleeve, spacing bushings bethe nozzles, and as ring surrounding thefslfeeve and pressingY axially on the nozzles 'im' ,yieldingly maintaining the nozzles in position on the sleeve, the nozzles being adapted to bie-rotated on lthsleeve to cut oi communi- Lcstibn with 'thesleeve 5 testimony wheregf have signed my v 

